U.S. patent number 5,987,431 [Application Number 08/950,231] was granted by the patent office on 1999-11-16 for self-service deposit method and apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to NCR Corporation. Invention is credited to Robert D. Andrew, Adam J. L. Johnston.
United States Patent |
5,987,431 |
Johnston , et al. |
November 16, 1999 |
Self-service deposit method and apparatus
Abstract
A self-service deposit terminal (10) for bank notes is arranged
to validate the notes. If any notes are deemed invalid then either
the invalid notes are diverted from going to a collection means
(42) for valid notes, or else the whole deposit is diverted. The
diverted notes are bound together, reference details are printed on
the bound notes, and the bundle is deposited in a rejection bin
(74). The bundle is later compared with the deposit details printed
out on a journal printer (72) to identify the user. The total value
of the deposit can then be added to the user's account.
Inventors: |
Johnston; Adam J. L. (Dundee,
GB), Andrew; Robert D. (Dundee, GB) |
Assignee: |
NCR Corporation (Dayton,
OH)
|
Family
ID: |
10810560 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/950,231 |
Filed: |
October 14, 1997 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/35; 209/534;
902/12; 902/17; 902/11; 902/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07D
11/30 (20190101); G07D 11/16 (20190101); G07D
11/009 (20130101); G06Q 40/00 (20130101); G07D
11/36 (20190101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07D
11/00 (20060101); G06F 017/60 () |
Field of
Search: |
;705/42,35,43,41
;209/534 ;902/8-12 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
0734001 |
|
Sep 1996 |
|
EP |
|
3243271 |
|
May 1984 |
|
DE |
|
Primary Examiner: Trammell; James P.
Assistant Examiner: Retta; Yehdega
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Welte; Gregory A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of handling sheets, the method comprising the steps
of:
(a) subjecting sheets to an acceptance procedure;
(b) separating rejected sheets from accepted sheets;
(c) diverting rejected sheets to a rejection bin;
(d) segregating at least one rejected sheet deposited in any one
deposit transaction from rejected sheets deposited in other deposit
transactions; and
(e) identifying the particular transaction in which a rejected
sheet was deposited.
2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps
of:
(f) binding one or more rejected sheets deposited in a single
deposit transaction to form a bundle; and
(g) printing identifying information on the bundle so that the
relevant deposit transaction can be identified.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein step (f) includes the
step of:
(f-1) holding the rejected sheet or sheets between two adhesive
tape portions with the ends of one tape portion respectively
adhering to the ends of the other tape portion.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the identifying
information is printed on at least one of the tape portions.
5. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps
of:
(h) entering information identifying the user who carries out a
deposit transaction, and
(i) comparing the printed information on the bundle with the user
identifying information to identify the user who deposited the note
or notes included in the bundle.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) includes the
step of:
(a-1) subjecting each deposited sheet to a validation procedure in
which a decision is made as to whether the sheet is valid or is
invalid.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein step (b) includes the
step of:
(b-1) rejecting only those sheets which are deemed to be
invalid.
8. A method according to claim 6, wherein step (b) includes the
step of:
(b-1) rejecting all sheets deposited in a deposit transaction if
any one sheet deposited in that deposit transaction is deemed to be
invalid.
9. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps
of:
(f) determining the value of each note deemed to be valid;
(g) calculating the total value of the notes deposited in a deposit
transaction where all notes are deemed to be valid; and
(h) comparing this total value with a value separately entered by a
user.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein step (b) includes the
step of:
(b-1) rejecting all the notes deposited in the transaction if the
compared values are different.
11. A sheet deposit apparatus comprising:
receiving means for receiving at least one sheet deposited by a
user during a deposit transaction;
acceptance means for subjecting deposited sheets to an acceptance
procedure and making a decision as to whether to accept or reject
deposited sheets;
separating means for separating rejected sheets from accepted
sheets;
retaining means for receiving rejected sheets;
segregating means for segregating one or more sheets deposited in
any one deposit transaction from rejected sheets deposited in other
transactions; and
identifying means for identifying the particular transaction to
which a rejected sheet belongs.
12. A sheet deposit apparatus according to claim 11, further
comprising (i) a card reader for receiving a user's identification
card as part of a deposit transaction, (ii) a door covering a sheet
deposit slot, and (iii) means for controlling the door to open when
the user's identification card is verified and to close when at
least one sheet has been deposited during the deposit
transaction.
13. In a self-service kiosk, the improvement comprising:
a) means for accepting bank notes from a user;
b) means for classifying the bank notes as type 1 or type 2;
c) means for
i) separating type 1 notes from type 2 notes,
ii) bundling type 1 notes into a package,
iii) placing the package into a first storage location, and
iv) placing the type 2 notes into a second storage location,
without bundling.
14. Improvement according to claim 13, wherein, after bank notes
have been accepted from multiple users,
i) the first storage location contains a plurality of packages of
type 1 bank notes, and
ii) the second storage location contains a plurality of separate,
non-bundled type 2 bank notes.
15. Improvement according to claim 13, and further comprising means
for labeling the bundles with indicia identifying each respective
user.
16. Method according to claim 1, wherein, prior to the acceptance
procedure, the sheets are delivered by a customer in connection
with the transaction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a self-service deposit method and
apparatus for receiving bank notes or other sheets such as
cheques.
A deposit apparatus for receiving bank notes may be included in an
automated teller machine (ATM). It is known for an ATM of this type
to dispense bank notes which have earlier been deposited at the
ATM, such ATM being known as a recycling ATM.
Known self-service deposit terminals for receiving loose bank notes
(in contrast with notes contained in envelopes) subject the notes
to a validation procedure. One or more of the deposited notes may
be rejected on the grounds that they are damaged, dirty or forged,
and the rejected notes are returned to the user.
This known type of deposit terminal has the disadvantage that the
user must wait at the terminal for possible return of rejected
notes, and may spend additional time in retrying to deposit the
rejected notes. It is widely accepted that the personal safety of
users of self-service deposit terminals is more at risk the longer
the time they spend in making a deposit. Apart from the safety
issue, the more time spent by users in making deposits the less
efficient is the operation of the deposit terminal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
self-service deposit method and apparatus.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided
a sheet deposit method including the steps of subjecting sheets to
an acceptance procedure, and separating rejected sheets from
accepted sheets, characterized by the steps of diverting rejected
sheets to retaining means, segregating at least one rejected sheet
deposited in any one deposit transaction from rejected sheets
deposited in other deposit transactions, and identifying the
particular transaction in which a rejected sheet was deposited.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is
provided a sheet deposit apparatus including receiving means for
receiving at least one sheet deposited by a user in the course of a
deposit transaction, and acceptance means arranged to subject
deposited sheets to an acceptance procedure and arranged to make a
decision as to whether to accept or reject deposited sheets,
characterized by separating means for separating rejected sheets
from accepted sheets, retaining means for rejected sheets,
segregating means for segregating one or more sheets deposited in
any one deposit transaction from rejected sheets deposited in other
transactions, and identifying means for identifying the particular
transaction to which a rejected sheet belongs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Two embodiments of the present invention will now be described by
way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-service deposit
terminal;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the deposit terminal of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a
deposit apparatus according to the invention included in the
terminal of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a
deposit apparatus according to the invention included in the
terminal of FIGS. 1 and 2; and
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a bundle of notes bound by the
deposit apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the self-service deposit terminal 10
shown therein includes a display 12 for displaying user
information, a key pad 14 for inputting data, a card reader 16 for
receiving a user identity card, a door 18 behind which is a slot in
which bank notes can be deposited, a receipt printer 20 for
printing a receipt acknowledging a deposit made by a user and for
issuing the receipt to the user via a slot 22, and data processing
means 24 to which the display 12, the key pad 14, the card reader
16 and the receipt printer 20 are connected. A conventional note
validator 26 and note transport means 28 are also connected to the
data processing means 24, the transport means 28 serving to
transport deposited notes along paths indicated by arrows 30 in
FIGS. 3 and 4 under the control of the data processor means 24.
To make a deposit, a user inserts his identification card in the
card slot 32 of the terminal 10. Data contained in a magnetic strip
on the card is read by the card reader 16 and transmitted by the
data processing means 24 to a host computer 34. If the host
computer 34 authorizes the card, then the data processing means 24
causes the door 18 to be opened by means of a door actuator 36 so
as to allow the user to insert into the deposit slot the note or
notes which are to be deposited. Also, the user enters details e.g.
amount of the deposit by means of the key pad 14. Once the deposit
has been made the door 18 closes.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the deposited notes are separated from
each other by conventional separating means (not shown) and
individually fed by the transport means 28 (see FIG. 2) to the note
validator 26. The note validator 26 makes a determination as to
whether each note fed to it, e.g. the note 38 shown in FIG. 3 or
FIG. 4, is valid or invalid.
The note validator 26 also recognizes the value of accepted notes
of different denominations and the data processing means 24 uses
this information to calculate a total value of the accepted notes
deposited.
If a note is accepted as valid by the validator 26 then a divert
gate 40 remains in its home position shown in solid outline in FIG.
3 and the note is fed to collection means 42.
If a note is rejected as invalid by the validator 26, then the data
processing means 24 rotates the divert gate 40 into the position
shown in chain outline in FIG. 3 by means of an actuator 44 (see
FIG. 2), and the note is fed by transport means to a conventional
stacking wheel 46 to be loaded onto belt means 48 that at this time
is in a stationary condition. The stacking wheel 46 comprises a
plurality of stacking plates 50 spaced apart in parallel
relationship along the shaft 52 of the stacking wheel 46.
Once all the notes deposited by the customer have either been fed
to the collection means 42 or loaded onto the belt means 48, the
data processor means 24 causes the total value of accepted notes
deposited to be credited to the user's account identified by the
information read off the identificalion card that had earlier been
inserted into the card reader slot 32 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The
receipt printed by the receipt printer 20 includes the total value
of the accepted notes deposited.
Any note deposited in a deposit transaction which are rejected by
the validator 26 are formed by the stacking wheel 46 into a stack
of notes 38' supported on the belt means 48. It should be
understood that the stack 38' will comprise only a single note if
only one note was rejected in the course of a deposit transaction.
The belt means 48 forms part of the transport means 28, which under
the control of the data processing means 24 (see FIG. 2),
transports the stack of rejected notes to a binding mechanism 54
whose operations is also controlled by the data processing means
24. The stack passes between a pair of guide rolls 56 towards a
pair of pressure rolls 58 included in the binding mechanism 54. The
pressure rolls 58 are fed with adhesive tape 60, stored on two
rolls 62, one located above the path of the stack 38', and the
other one below. The adhesive tape 60 fed from each roll 62 has a
self-adhesive coating on one side, this coating facing the
self-adhesive coating of the tape 60 fed from the other roll 62.
The adhesive sticks to itself and not to media such as bank notes.
At the pressure rolls 58 the two adhesive tapes 60 adhere together
at their free ends. The stack of rejected notes is passed between
the pressure rolls 58 and the two tapes 60 causing the notes
comprising the stack to be held firmly together between two
sections of tape 60. After the trailing edge of the stack 38' has
passed between the pressure rolls 58, a pair of cutters 64 included
in the binding mechanism 54 cuts the adhering together portions of
the tape 60 adjacent the trailing edge of the stack 38' so as to
form a discrete bundle 66 as shown in FIG. 5. It will be
appreciated that the bundle 66 comprises the stack of notes 38'
(which as previously mentioned may be a single note) held between
two separate tape portions 60' and 60", the ends of the portion 60'
respectively adhering to the ends of the portion 60".
A printer 68, connected to the data processing means 24, prints on
the tape portion 60' of the bundle 66 a deposit serial number, and
the date and the transaction time. The latter two pieces of
information are obtained from a clock 70 built into the data
processing means 24. At the same time, the data processing means 24
causes a journal printer 72 (see FIG. 2) to print out the same
details along with the card and account number of the user as read
from the user's card that was inserted into the card reading slot
32.
After the identifying information is printed on the bundle 66, the
bundle 66 is deposited in a rejection bin 74. The binding of the
rejected note or notes in a manner described effectively segregates
such note or notes from the other notes rejected in the course of
the other deposit transactions and held in bundles in the rejection
bin 74.
By comparing the information printed on each bound bundle with the
journal printout, the financial institution owning the terminal 10
can track down one or more notes rejected in a transaction deposit
to a particular user, and can thereby reconcile each deposit
transaction.
A rejected note may be a forged note, but more probably is a note
that has proved impossible to validate because it is dirty or
damaged.
Referring to FIG. 4, a second embodiment is shown. This is similar
to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 except that the divert gate
40 and collection means 42 are repositioned in relation to the
stacking wheel 46 and the belt means 48. Corresponding parts in the
embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 have the same reference numbers. In
operation of the embodiment of FIG. 4, all notes deposited in a
deposit transaction are stacked on the belt means 48 regardless of
whether or not any of these are rejected. Once the whole deposit
has been stacked on the belt means 48, the transport means 28
transports the stack towards the divert gate 40. If no notes were
rejected by the validator 26 then the divert gate 40 directs the
deposit into the collection means 42. If, however, at least one
note is rejected then the whole deposit is directed to the binding
mechanism 54 and formed into a bundle as previously described with
identifying data being printed on the bundle 66.
In another mode of operation of the embodiment of FIG. 4, if all
notes deposited in a deposit transaction are accepted by the
validator 26, the data processing means 24 makes a determination as
to whether the total value of the deposited notes recognized by the
validator 26 is the same as the total value of the deposit as
entered by the user via the key pad 14 (see FIG. 1). If the two
total values do not correspond, then the user is advised of the
discrepancy via the display 12 and asked to re-enter the total
value of the deposited notes. If, after a predetermined number of
attempts, the user does not enter a total value corresponding to
that determined by the data processing means 24, then the deposited
stack is fed to the binding mechanism 54 and formed into a bundle
and deposited in the rejection bin 74 in the same manner as in the
case of one or more of the deposited notes being rejected.
It should be understood that a self-service deposit apparatus in
accordance with the invention may be included in a recycling ATM.
In this case, collection means in the ATM to which accepted
deposited notes are fed includes a plurality of stores where each
store holds notes of one particular denomination. The notes are
sorted in response to the output from a note validator. If a
subsequent user wishes to make a withdrawal from the ATM then notes
which have been deposited earlier in the collection means may be
retrieved from one or more of the relevant stores and passed to the
user in fulfillment of his withdrawal request.
Also, it should be understood that a self-service deposit apparatus
in accordance with the invention could be arranged to receive and
validate sheets other than bank notes. For example, such apparatus
could be used for the reception and validation of cheques or
vouchers having a designated value.
* * * * *